Volunteers Keying Katrina Recovery Efforts

Harry Smith Visits New Orleans, Two Years After Storm

(CBS)  Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast two years ago Wednesday.

There were lots of promises about cleaning up and rebuilding, but it's been a very slow go.

Local, state and federal officials have their hands full and, reports The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, much of the real work is being done not by government agencies, but by regular people, on their own time, just trying to make a difference.

Smith calls it "amazing" that, in the first year after Katrina, 555,000 people volunteered along the Gulf Coast. This past year, that number grew to 600,000, and more are still needed. Many more.

Many people are spending honeymoons or family reunions or birthdays there - proof, Smith says, that if your heart's in the right place, it really is better to give than to receive.

Smith went to New Orleans, and met many members of that army of volunteers.

He told some of their stories on The Early Show Wednesday. To see his report, click here.

Check here later to see that report.

If you want to pitch in, in any way, visit the Web sites of these groups mentioned in Smith's report: The USA Freedom Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, and Teach NOLA.

[mamakitty17]

Kudos for the story of the volunteers! My 15 year old son spent a week in New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish, this past July with his Youth Group from Oregon on a Missions trip. Although I was a little disappointed the youth volunteers weren''t mentioned, following his visit and the impact it had on him, I know all volunteers are appreciated. He''s ready to go back...the sooner the better...because of the deep impact meeting the people affected had on him and 2 years is a very long time.

[sudzy1955]

I wanted sent a note to CBS and Harry Smith on the Katrina''s Volunteer Army story, THANK YOU. It was great to see a heart warming story about Americans helping Americans. In a time when you have to look sometimes to see the good side of people and situations, Harry brought me some hope in Americas people. I have friends that have been working (not volunteers)to clean up the devastation. They talk about all the people that are getting paid for doing very little or nothing and taking advantage of a disaster. Nice to see people doing something for nothing. I know there were a lot of people that went down to help right after the storm, two years later, heart warming. KEEP IT UP VOLUNTEERS!!!! Maybe it will rub off on others.

[sudzy1955]

I wanted sent a note to CBS and Harry Smith on the Katrina''s Volunteer Army story, THANK YOU. It was great to see a heart warming story about Americans helping Americans. In a time when you have to look sometimes to see the good side of people and situations, Harry brought me some hope in Americas people. I have friends that have been working (not volunteers)to clean up the devastation. They talk about all the people that a getting paid for doing very little or nothing and taking advantage of a disaster. Nice to see people doing something for nothing. I know there were a lot of people went down to help right after the storm, two years later, heart warming. KEEP IT UP VOLUNTEERS!!!! Maybe it will rub off on others.